WELLSBURG – Senior night is always special, and teams always want to honor their seniors with a win on their special night.

It did not look good early on, however, the Brooke softball team was able to do just that Friday evening. After falling behind 7-0 to East Liverpool, the Bruins recorded the final eight runs to shock the Potters, 8-7, at home in Brooke’s second game of the day.

“East Liverpool came out ready to play,” Brooke (9-11) head coach Tommy Diserio said. “We run-ruled them Wednesday up at their place. They came out tonight, and they put up a fight. East Liverpool hit the ball well. They hit it well throughout their lineup.

“We were able to string some hits together. We were able to keep it close. Then, we had that breakthrough in that one inning. Maggie Diserio stole home on the throw from the catcher back to the pitcher. That gave us the lead.

“Avery Rado and Eden McKinney both threw very well.

“It was surreal for our four seniors. We were able to start all four seniors, and that is huge for the program. It is nice we were able to start all four of them. It was nice to get a win for them on Senior Night. I am proud of the girls.”

The Potters (5-11) led 7-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, however, the Bruins’ bats got hot from that point as the hosts tallied eight runs in the next three innings to rally for the win.

Both teams used two pitchers in the game.

Rado started in the circle for Brooke, and she ended up with a no-decision. Rado recorded one strikeout while not walking a batter in her two innings of work. McKinney replaced her, and McKinney went on to get the win. McKinney struck out four without walking a batter in her five innings of relief work.

Rayne Faessel started for East Liverpool, and she ended up with a no-decision. She struck out one without walking a batter in her five innings of work. She was replaced by Tatum Fink, who took the loss. Fink finished with two strikeouts and no walks in her one inning of relief work.

The girls from Columbiana County outhit the girls from Brooke County, 14-6, but the home team came up with the big hits when they needed them.

Individually, Jazz Wood delivered a single, home run and two RBI, Maggie Diserio tallied a triple and an RBI and ado recorded a double and an RBI. Also, McKinney collected a single and an RBI, and Marionna Dipaolo produced a single.

“I would like to say the coaching staff had some great words of wisdom to say to inspire the girls, but we only had a simple message for them,” Coach Diserio said. “We just told them that, ‘It’s your game and your team. You just have to out and play. You have the ability. You just have to go out and make it happen.’

“The seniors stepped up. We had some other girls step up. Really, any of the 22 girls on the team can step up and get the dugout fired up or to give the other girls advice. The girls have bought in, and it is showing. We are playing better. They all get along.”

For East Liverpool, Addie Jones tallied a single, a double and three RBI, Johonna Vantilburg collected a single, a double and an RBI and Alanna McGonigal added two doubles. Also, Trinity Pearson produced two singles and an RBI, Faessell finished with three singles and Nayana Monteiro ended with a double. Finally, Kylee Evans contributed two singles.

Prior to the start of the game, Brooke honored its seniors – Jaime Mossisette (second base), Emma Michel (first), Wood (third) and Diapolo (shortstop/left field/utility.

“It is great we were able to get this win,” Coach Diserio said. “It is super great we were able to get the win. It is great to get the win on any day, but to get the win on the night when you honor your seniors is really great. It is a day where the coaching staff, the fans and the parents can come together to honor the seniors.

“What is cool for me is that all of our seniors have played baseball or softball for me since they were 5 or 6. Being able to see them grow up and being able to coach them, it’s great. I have known them since they were young. Ironically, I started coaching them in baseball because the Wellsburg League did not have softball at the time. It is great to be able to coach them in softball in high school.”

Martins Ferry defeated Brooke, 11-0, in five innings in the first game of the day for the Bruins.

East Liverpool is scheduled to play Catholic Central at 11 a.m. today on the road down at the Steve Zamana Softball Field.

Brooke is scheduled to play Edison at 11 a.m. today at home.

Brooke 8, East Liverpool 7

East Liverpool 240 100 0 – 7 14 3

Brooke 000 143 X – 8 6 3

EAST LIVERPOOL (5-11): Faessel ND (5IP, 1K, 0BB), Fink LP (1IP, 2K, 0BB) and McGonigal and Pearson. Pearson 2S, RBI; Vatilburg S, D, RBI; Faessel 3S; Jones S, D, 3RBI; Evans 2S; McGonigal 2D; Monteiro D.

BROOKE (9-11): Rado ND (2IP, 1K, 0BB), McKinney WP (5IP, 4K, 0BB) and Diserio. Diserio T, RBI; McKinney S, RBI; Rado D, RBI; Wood S, HR, 2RBI; Dipaolo S.